March Adventure: Swim with the Current and Float Away

[lifeaftr_mods]

NEW ISLAND: AI'TUOH

Who: Anyone who feels brave...or particularly lawful
What: A city worth exploring, and a people worth meeting
When: March 10th and onward
Where: Ai'tuoh
Warnings: The themes you might associate with strict punishment and rule-based dystopias will abound, along with nonconsensual drugging/sedation for those found guilty in the streets. Otherwise, mark as needed!

The Overview: Ai'tuoh
The dawn of the 10th will see the appearance of the promised island on the horizon. The smooth, even planes of city walls rear across the expanse of sandy beach, but beyond that, no particular discerning characteristics can be immediately glean. That same morning, characters will awaken from a brief dream, wherein the Storyteller will advise that the new island accessible via mana pool - and they suggest, with some trepidation, that you do not make the location of said mana pool on the new land immediately obvious to the natives. It's clear that something has put them on edge, though they've yet to say what.

Welcome, adventurers, to the island of Ai'tuoh.

Our City, Our Rules
Ai'tuoh is home to a sprawling city, built of smooth, sandy stone. Its architecture is simple, precise, and uniform, valuing utility above all else - function to the exclusion of form. The homogeneity of the people of Ai'tuoh extends beyond the similar, monochrome spectrum of their apparel. Despite the gradations of skin color and the subtle shifts in the shades of their hair - all falling within established limits, of course - they all appear to be more or less human. But most striking of all is the stern warning emblazoned across the city's gates. It translates as follows:

May those who violate our law be cleansed in the Standing Water.

The Unerring Law of the people of Ai'tuoh can be found in the library, which contains little besides some five hundred copies of the same dispassionate lists of various laws, most of which you've probably already broken by the time you've entered.

If you plan on stopping by, we'd recommend taking the time to explore the docks first - those that frequent that particular area are rather more forthcoming to travelers. You might find someone sympathetic to your plight, willing to offer some helpful hints.

Holding Cells: Awaiting Your Trial
Those unlucky enough to be caught by the concealed militia taskforce of the city will be sedated on sight of their violation, and will wake in a small, smooth-stoned room. There are no windows, and only one door - and it won't be opening under your duress. The holding cell into which you've been deposited is beyond barebones; while clean and uniform, it lacks even the basic commodities of a bed and bucket. It seems that there's no need to plan for keeping prisoners in the long term. No one drops by to visit, and no one addresses you if they pass through. Your only company is in your cellmates, who you might be able to hear through the walls, provided you raise your voice over the soft, buzzing hum that permeates the air; a magical suppression field, to ensure that those with particular talents cannot exert them to break the law's hold.

The barracks are sorted into clusters of several buildings, each with variety of cells hidden in secluded pockets. To contrast the uniformity of the city itself, there is no such order here; the buildings are designed to be difficult to break into, and even harder to orient oneself in.

Those who are being kept in holding until their cleansing will not be in complete isolation forever. There are a number of militia who patrol the prison areas to ensure peace is being kept...and some might even be open to conversation.

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For OOC information about Ai'tuoh and the city's laws, please see our recent OOC information post!

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Feeling a tad adrift? Make sure to check the Locations Page, which has details regarding the starting areas and a handy map for those who feel better with a bird's eye view!

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LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

[souldeterminant]

[They raise their eyebrows, not expecting to have half of the apple shoved back towards them, but not entirely surprised. They don't think she remembers them, but Frisk certainly remembers her; recalls that she has some kind of power that's similar to magic. In either case, they take the apple and rub their sleeve against it, removing any smudged dirt that might have gotten on it.]

[They eye their surroundings. They probably shouldn't eat this right out in the open, when that guy could come back at any moment...]

[Making an executive decision, Frisk shoves the apple into their mouth and bites into it, freeing their hands so that they can lift the tarp and crawl underneath. Make room, doggy.]

[mamaterasu]

[Well, Ammy's not exactly a large wolf, there's plenty of room under the tarp, though she does shuffle over a bit when she sees that they're making their way under. Ammy thumps her tail against the ground the moment she sees Frisk, teeth clamped around the half of the apple she cut up for them. Heh heh, that's cute...glad you're enjoying, little one. Hopefully, they're not found before they get the chance to finish it...otherwise she'd going to have to make a hasty retreat with her little friend here.

Nodding to her side, Ammy invites the young child to lay against her. She's soft, and despite her smaller than average size, she's quite sturdy. Frisk will find no complaint if they lay their weight upon her. She welcomes it, in fact, and leans close to nose at their face. There may she no familiarity there, but there will always be love held in those dark eyes.]

[souldeterminant]

[It doesn't matter if she remembers them or not; they know a doggy's love never fades. The skin around Frisk's eyes fan with happy little crinkles, and they take the apple out of their mouth as they settle against her and she leans her face in closer. Setting the fruit half into their lap, they place their hands on the sides of her head and give her a playful ruffling, leaning their own nose in to boop clumsily against hers. Since when have they minded apple-y dog breath? Never, that's when.]

[She won't see it, they don't think, with their faces this close -- but Frisk's smile turns a little sad. They pull away and wipe their sleeve over the wet spot her nose leaves on theirs.]

Hi, Snowpoff.

[Nice to see you again.]

[mamaterasu]

[Hopefully Frisk isn't lying when they say they don't mind her breath, because once Ammy gets a good ruffle, she begins to pat rather heavily, her apple-y breath washing over the youngster's face as her tail begins to slap happily against the side of their shoe. Her ears perk and she licks at their face when they come close to boop their nose with her own, then that same tongue comes over to swipe across her own leathery sniffer. Weird feeling, that...no one's ever really done it. Not quite anyway.

Issun was the only one who got to bounce up and down on her snout before, and that wasn't really what Frisk did. Children are silly things, heh. Nudging them with her head, she bids them to eat their ill-gotten gains, lest someone find them both huddled under here with the spoils. She could easily whisk them away, no problem, but it'd be best not to cause that much a scene. Especially not in a place such as this.]

Wrrr?

[What's a Snowpoff? Her head tilts to one side, ears flopping slightly. Is this another child she's met before, in another life? They do look very similar to another she's met. The smell is totally different, though, and the same as the aura. Siblings, perhaps? Maybe twins? Snowpoff is still an interesting name. She's been called Snoy and Snowball, but never Snowpoff.]

[souldeterminant]

[plz, they've shared a room with Sans, even Ammy's godly stench can't compare to a trashbag that's been in a giant cave for god knows how many years.]

[Obediently Frisk bites into the apple, wiping juice from their chin with their sleeve. Again, they don't see any recognition in her eyes at the nickname, but... they weren't expecting any. It doesn't stop the pang of regret that turns the apple sour on their tongue, but they swallow it down and refuse to let it get to them.]

[It's their consequence. They just have to keep reminding themself that.]

[Really, they're lucky that despite everything, Snowpoff is still herself, too. Even without the memory of them.]

[So, it's okay. Frisk takes another oversized bite of their apple, well accustomed to scarfing down their food to reduce the chances of being caught. They reach out their sticky fingers and scratch the top of her head, their words muffled around a mouthful of pulp.]

Are you hiding from them?

[mamaterasu]

[Fair enough...

Recognition or no, memory of this child or no, the love still remains ever present in those dark eyes - that is not something so easily ERASED, even by two very determined children. She turns her head away as Frisk eats, eyes pointed on the tarp hiding them, in case anyone thinks to start approaching, or attempt to reveal them. It's a shame she can't hear very well - too many people, footsteps, and voices going at once. A market is a busy place, and she should be used to it, but it's tricky to pinpoint one sound among many.

Her attention, however, it further pulled from her task when five sticky, little fingers scratch through the shorter, coarser fur on her head, and Ammy leans forward and into those deft fingers, turning her head and flicking her ears as an indication - aware of ears, pls scritch ears. However, before they can even do as she wished, Ammy yawns and nods slowly.

Not so much hiding as she is just...avoiding them. Heaven knows these dull and rude people won't appreciate the little, ah...gift she left on their front steps. Ahem.]